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Malaysia Satellite - 23rd - 28th November

Nov 23:THE top national players had a reasonably good outing at the recently concluded Singapore Open and starting today, the second stringers will be on test at the Magnum-ABC Malaysia Satellite badminton tournament in Alor Star. And the best bets to do Malaysia proud in the men's singles are either Lee Tsuen Seng, James Chua or Sairul Amar Ayob.

But it is Englishman Andrew Smith who has been seeded top in the draw which was released by the International Badminton Federation and he is drawn to meet Australian Stuart Brehaut in the final.

Malaysia, who have entered a number of back-up squad and Bukit Jalil Sports School players, should provide the fight to the 30-odd foreign field.

Indonesia's eight players are all from their junior squad and they come with good credential, at least at the junior level international competitions.

England's David Lindley and Kristian Roebuck are the men's doubles topseeds with New Zealanders John Gordon and Daniel Shirley the second seeds.

But they could find the going tough as Malaysia have entered a number of strong pairs, including the scratch combination of Choong Tan Fook-Chew Choon Eng, who finished runners-up in the China Open a fortnight ago, Fairuzizuan Tazari- Lin Woon Fui, who reached the Singapore Open quarter-finals, and the improving pair of Gan Teik Chai-Zakry Abdul Latif.

In the women's section, Indonesia's Selvi Antarini has got top billing and she is expected to meet Malaysia's Woon Sze Mei in the final. Malaysia's Wong Pei Ty-Chin Ee Hui have been ranked No 1 in the women's doubles, while England's Liza Parker-Suzanne Rayappan are seeded second in a field of 20 pairs.

SIX Indonesians made their way to the women's singles quarter-finals as Malaysia's number two and second seeded Woon Sze Mei fell by the wayside in the ABC Malaysia Satellite badminton championships at the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium in Alor Star yesterday.
Sze Mei, a Uber Cup player, was defeated by Indonesian newcomer Pia Zabedah 11-8,13-11,11-7 in a match which lasted just over an hour. Only Anita Kaur and Amelia Anscelly carried Malaysia's flag into the quarter-finals and they are expected to be seriously tested by the Indonesian lasses at that stage.

Second seed Stuart Brehaut of Australia crashed out of the men's singles third round when he was defeated 15-4,11-15,15-10 by Malaysia's Raymond Steven.

Malaysia's top ranked players like James Chua, Lee Tsuen Seng, K. Yogendran and Sairul Amar Ayob had a good second round outing yesterday.

In the men's doubles, top seeds David Lindley and Kristian Roebuck of England had to dig deep into their reserves to beat Indonesian pair Rian Sukmawan and Yoga Ukikasah 7-15,15-9,17-15 in a match which lasted 80 minutes.

But second seeds John Gordon and Daniel Shirley of New Zealand were beaten by Indonesia's Rendra Wijaya and Yonathan Dasuki.

Malaysia's new partnership of Choong Tan Fook and Chew Choon Eng qualified for the quarter-finals with relative ease.

BY LOGANATH VELLOO
ALOR STAR: Malaysia are assured of a place in both the men's singles and doubles finals of the Magnum Malaysian Satellite Badminton Championship at the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium here tomorrow.

Lee Tsuen Seng and Raymond Steven won their respective quarter-final matches last night to set up an all-Malaysian semi-final in the singles.

In the doubles, Choong Tan Fook-Chew Choong Eng will face compatriots Ng Kean Kok-Khoo Chung Chiat for a place in the final.

Gan Teik Chai-Abdul Latif Zakry are also through to the last four after defeating top seeds David Lindley-Kristian Roebuck of England 15-10, 15-3.

They will play Indonesians Hendra Gunawan-Joko Riyadi in the last four today.

Tsuen Seng and Raymond have not played each other before today's clash.

“I have never played Tsuen Seng before but realise that it is going to be very tough to beat him. However, I have had a good run so far in this competition and will have nothing to lose by going all out to defeat him,” said Raymond.

BY LOGANATH VELLOO
ALOR STAR: When all eyes were on the men's shuttlers, the women's doubles players sprang a surprise by securing Malaysia one title in the Magnum Malaysian Satellite Badminton Championships at the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium here last night.

The See Phui Leng-Fong Chew Yen and Ooi Sock Ai-Mooi Ying Hau pairs set up an all-Malaysian final with straight-game victories in the semi-finals yesterday.

The Malaysians had difficulties finding their rhythm and were trounced 5-15, 2-15.

The Indonesians will take on Choong Tan Fook-Chew Choon Eng in the final today.

Tan Fook-Choon Eng were taken to three games by compatriots Ng Kean Kok-Khoo Chung Chiat before winning 15-10, 5-15, 15-9.

Malaysia also have a bright chance to win the men's singles title as favourite Lee Tsuen Seng thrashed Raymond Steven 15-3, 15-3. The national shuttler will now take on the surprise package of the tournament, Minh Nguen Tien of Vietnam.

IT was a historic moment for young Vietnamese shuttler Minh Nguyen Tien when he knocked out Malaysian shuttler and favourite Lee Tsuen Seng to win the men's singles crown in the Magnum ABC Malaysia Satellite badminton championships at the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium in Alor Star yesterday.

Nguyen Tien, who came to this competition without any strong credentials, was the toast last night as he defeated the Malaysian 15-11, 9-15, 15-12 in 92 minutes.

This is the first time that a player from Vietnam has won a title in an international competition.

For Tsuen Seng, the defeat by the little known Vietnamese who comes from a country where badminton is not the top priority sport, is a big blow to his career.

"I should have wrapped up the match in the rubber set when I was leading 11-5," said the frustrated Tsuen Seng after the match.

"But all of a sudden I became very tired and allowed the Vietnamese to catch up and beat me in the end."

It was close in the first set and both players scored point for point until 11-11 when Nguyen Tien took the last four points in a row for victory.

In the second set Tsuen Seng raced to a 9-4 lead before the Vietnamese caught up at 9-8. But the Malaysian tightened his game and won the set 15-9 in 28 minutes.

In the rubber, everything looked bright for Tsuen Seng when he led 11-5 but the young Vietnamese university student took ten straight points for this historic win.

"Unlike the Malaysian, I was very relaxed throughout the match as I had nothing to lose, " said Nguyen Tien.

"And that made me play better even when I was trailing in the last set."

Malaysia made up for their loss in the singles when their sctratch doubles pair Choong Tan Fook and Chew Choon Eng easily defeated Indonesian pair Aprida Hendra Gunawan and Joko Riyadi, who are ranked six in their country, 15-11, 15-4.

Maria Kristin won the women's singles title after beating her compatriot Adianti Firdasari 8-11, 11-2, 11-8 in the final.